The Future's Bright; the Future is....Green?

Having spent the last couple of weeks blogging for Edinburgh Science Festival, I have been having a few Eco-Nightmares, due to the frank predictions and (much needed) dire warnings about climate change from many of the Science Fest. speakers.

So, it was with a some-what heavy heart that I picked up Mark Stevenson's 'An Optimists Tour of the Future'.  Mark (a stand-up comic and writer) set out on a mission to see what the future holds.  And he found out some pretty amazing stuff!

Who would have thought that drought-parched grass pasture in Australia could fully recover, just by installing a few fences and moving cattle around differently?

Who would have credited the fact that you can print solar panels just like photographs, on giant flexible sheets of plastic and wrap them around anything from buildings to rucksacks?

Who would believe that nanotechnology allows oil to be produced without having to drill for it (and by the way, it's carbon neutral)?

And all of this is happening now, not in some way-off Star Trek vision, but right at this moment.  This book certainly helped me feel more optimistic about the possibilities that lie ahead.

The future is indeed bright; it is also smart, efficient and green and it is waiting for us, whenever we're ready!

Find out more at An Optimists Tour of the Future